Spring biased exercising apparatus



1965 J. s. SHABOO ETAL 3,215,

SPRING BIASED EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGG F IG 2 23 I9 I i r i 25 I9 26 Fl G 7 INVENTORS JOSEPH S. SHABOO BY EDWARD .SHABOO Md W A TTORNEYS 1965 J. 5. SHABOO ETAL 3,215,4 9

SPRING BIASED EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOSEPH S, SHABOO BY EDWARD .SHABOO A TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,215,429 SPRING BIASED EXERCISING APPARATUS Joseph S. Shaboo, 24 Vinton SL, Melrose, Mass., and Edward Y. Shaboo, Dover, Fla. Filed Sept. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 224,462 7 Claims. (Ci. 272-80) This application is a cont-inuation-in-part of an application filed May 10, d961, by the present inventors for an Exercising Device, Serial Number 109,066, now Patent No. 3,062,543.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in exercising devices and more particularly to a multipurpose exercising device for use by both men and Women, as well as by children.

Today, even with added stress being placed upon physical fitness and body development, many people have found little or no time to devote to the usual outdoor exercises such as participant sports, cycling, walking, etc. Many of these people have turned to mechanical devices designed to exercise the body in a multitude of ways during a short interval of use. A great many of the popular exercising devices presently in use feature a vibrational structure which is applied to a single part of the body in direct contact with the vibrating unit. Such contact vibrational devices have never been shown to be of any real aid in general all around body exercise.

The exercising devices that have proven most effective and beneficial for general exercise are the well known rowing and cycling machines. The primary drawback with these machines is their great expense for the average user, the large amount of floor space required for storage and use, and possible mechanical malfunction.

A well designed exerciser should work on the principle of moving tough muscle against soft fatty tissues. When this is repeated constantly, fatty tissue will dissolve due to friction and firmer tissue .and muscle will develop.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an exercising device intended to exercise muscle and tissues in all parts of the body by simple rearrangement of the device elements.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an exercising device which in use will bring into action most of the muscles and muscle tissues of the body to aid in dissolving fatty tissues and improve the circulation.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an exercising device that will enable both bicycletype and rowing-type of exercise to be performed simultaneously.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a universal exercising device whose elements may be broken down and used to perform varied exercises.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exercising device of the portable type that may be used in a bicycle type of exercise utilizing the legs as well as the upper body.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bicycle type of exerciser which may be attached to the body by harness means so that the arms are free for other functions.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide an exercising device which is portable, can be used indoors or out, is light in weight, durable, and maintenance free.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an exercising device bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, and is at all times efficient, reliable, and safe in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the device assembled for use in a combined rowing and cycling exercise;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the bent bar, taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the central cylinder, taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIGURE 1 in use with but one spring for each leg stirrup;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the device in use with extension springs for overhead arm raises;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view, partly in section showing one of the unit handles hooked up for hand pulls;

FIGURE 7 is a plan View of two handle assemblies hooked up with the springs for chest pull exercises;

FIGURE 8 is a front perspective of the exercising device attached by a harness to the user; and

FIGURE 9 is a rear perspective of the exercising device and harness in use.

Reference is now made more specifically to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein the exercising device which constitutes the invention is designated generally at 10.

The exercising device is fabricated from a cold steel rod or bar which is bent as shown in FIGURE 1 so that it has a central horizontal section 11 and two offset handle receiving sections 12 and 13 which are parallel to the central section and which are part of two crank arm portions 14 and 15. Rotatably mounted on the central section 11 is a long cylindrical hand grip 16 including a wooden or plastic core 17 and preferably a metal outer covering 18. Loosely mounted on the central section between the hand grip and the rod bends beginning the crank arm portions are clip brackets 19.

A short hand grip of construction similar to central hand grip 1-6 is received on each of the sections 12 and 13 as shown at 20 and 21 in FIGURE 1. A rubber or plastic sleeve 22 is placed over the crank arm portions 14 and 15 and acts as a stop for the hand grip 16 and the hand grips 20 and 21 since its outside diameter is greater than the bore diameters of the hand grips. Clip brackets 19 are placed on each side of the hand grips 20 and 21 and a retainer nut 23 is threadedly received on each of the threaded rod ends as at 24.

The device, as so far described, can be used to perform a hand cycling exercise by grasping one of the grips 20 and 21 in each hand and then cranking one hand forward and the other backward in a motion similar to that of the legs and feet in riding a bicycle. Such movement ex.- ercises the entire upper portion of the body and may be continued while the user bends at the waist and moves the hand bar device up and down.

In order to enable the exercising device to be used for many other exercises wherein other portions of the body are to be stimulated and toned, several additional elements are provided. Two and preferably four tension springs 25 are furnished each of which have tightly wound wire convolutions and which are capable of substantial elongation. If desired rubber bands could be substituted for the springs. Each of these springs has a removable snap clip 26 at each end, which clips are adapted to couple with holes formed in brackets 19.

A pair of flexible foot stirrups 27 having brackets 19 attached thereto are provided for attachment to the springs 25. These stirrups are preferably formed of reinforced rubber but may be fabricated from any suitable material. With the stirrups and springs connected to the hand bar as in FIGURE 1, a combined rowing and cycling exercise can be performed in the manner shown in FIGURE 4. In this position lying on the back with the elbows close to the body, the hand grips are grasped and both the legs and arms are moved in a circular fashion bringing the knees up high. This exercise is useful in conditioning and toning of the entire body.

If it is desired to utilize the device for simulated weight lifting or barbell exercise, the springs may be attached to the hand bar as shown in FIGURE 5. In this position the feet are placed in the stirrups, and While standing, overhead raises or curls are performed. If it is desired to increase the weight to be lifted, additional springs may be attached to the clips brackets adjacent the central hand grip 16.

A pair of handle pins 28 and additional retaining nuts 23 are provided for facilitating individual hand pull exercises. For such exercise, the hand grips 20 and 21 and brackets 19 are removed and as shown in FIGURE 6 one of the handle pins passed through each hand grip and pair of brackets 19. Two nuts 23 are then screwed onto the handle pin threaded ends and the springs and stirrups attached. This provides two hand grip assemblies which can be used for practicing a wide variety of exercises. For example, the user can stand in each stirrup and perform hand curls successively with each hand or can place the stirrups on a doorknob and standing with his back thereto perform arm thrusts similar to a pully and weight device.

Two hand grip assemblies can be joined as shown in FIGURE 7 to provide for chest pull or extended arm pull exercises. Here, tWo or four springs may be used depending on the users strength or degree of exercise desired.

In specific instances where it is desired to exercise the body and yet permit the users hands to be free for the performance of other tasks, a body harness 30 has been provided. Such harness is useful -in confined quarters where exercise is essential such as in the cabin of a space craft or satellite. The harness includes a wide vertical strap 31 having loops 32 and 33 at each end into which are slideably received cross straps 34 and 35 for the neck and waist. At each end of these cross straps, bar attaching clips 36 are secured which fit on the hand bar as shown in FIGURE 8. If desired conventional belt adjustments may be provided to adapt the harness to any individual wearer regardless of size. With this attachment many exercises may be performed utilizing only the legs and upper torso without necessity of using the arms and hands.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the drawings and detailed description are to be construed in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense since various modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is; i

1. An exercising device comprising in combination, an elongated rod having opposed crank arm portions at each end thereof and integral therewith, a hand grip rotatably mounted on each of said opposed crank arms, elongated resilient means rotatably attached at one end to each of said crank arm portions, said crank arm portions being rotatable with respect to said resilient means, and stirrup means secured to the opposite end of said resilient means.

2. An exercising device as defined in claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises a coiled tension spring.

3. An exercising device comprising in combination, an elongated rod having a straight center section and opposed crank arm sections at each end thereof, each crank arm section having a portion parallel to said center section, said portion of one crank arm section being disposed from said portion of the other crank arm section by substantially degrees, a hand grip rotatablyv mounted on each of said crank arm portions, an attaching bracket rotatably mounted on each of said crank arm portions adjacent said hand grips, elongated resilient means secured at one end to said brackets, and stirrup means secured to the opposite end of said resilient means.

4. An exercising device as defined in claim 3, wherein said resilient means comprises a coiled tension spring.

5. An exercising device as defined in claim 3, and further including a hand grip rotatably mounted on said center section and attaching brackets rotatably mounted on said center section on each side of said last named hand grip for attachment of said resilient means.

6. An exercising device comprising in combination, an elongated rod having a straight center section and opposed crank arm sections at each end thereof, each crank arm section having a portion parallel to said center section, said portion of one crank arm section being disposed from said portion of the other crank arm section by substantially 180 degrees, a hand grip rotatably mounted on each of said crank arm portions, attaching brackets rotatably mounted on each of said crank arm portions on each side of said hand grips, an elongated coiled tension spring connected to each of said brackets, and a foot stirrup connected to each pair of springs.

7. An exercising device as defined in claim 3, and further including a body harness means adapted to fit around the upper torso, said harness means having waist and neck straps, each of said straps having an attaching bracket at the ends thereof for rotatable engagement with said center section of said rod.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,304,358 5/19 Norlund 74-545 X 1,612,496 12/26 Dobbins 272-73 2,302,954 11/42 Priest et al 74545 X 2,630,332 3/53 Pettijohn 272-73 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN EXERCISING DEVICE COMPRISING I COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED ROD HAVING OPPOSED CRANK ARM PORTIONS AT EACH END THEREOF AND INTEGRAL THEREWITH, A HAND GRIP ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID OPPOSED CRANK ARMS, ELONGATED RESILIENT MEANS ROTATABLY ATTACHED AT ONE END TO EACH OF SAID CRANK ARM PORTIONS, SAID CRANK ARM PORTIONS BEING ROTATABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID RESILIENT MEANS, AND STIRRUP MEANS SECURED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS. 